treats the subject particularly clearly. Hugh Denys a Citizen of London Hugh Denys was a citizen of the City of London. As a member of the Grocer's guild, he may possibly have been in commerce prior to his royal service. Appointment as Verger of Windsor Castle Hugh Denys held the post of Verger of Windsor Castle, as evidenced by the Letters & Papers of Henry VIII. The sale documentation relating to Gray's Inn confirms this, referring to Denys as "Verger of Windsor Castle". The duties of the office of Verger were to carry the "verge", or rod (from Latin virga, twig, rod) of office before a bishop, dean or other dignitary in ceremonies and processions and most especially before the king at the annual Garter Ceremony. Other Offices held by Hugh Denys In the Pardon Roll of Henry VIII, of 16 March c. 1510, Hugh Denys is described as "Esquire of the Body, Gauger in Bristol, one of the Ushers at the Receipt of the Exchequer, Ulnager in Counties Oxford and Berks., Grocer and Garbler (sic) of London". This implies that the by then elderly Denys, after his former royal master's death in 1509 had remained in royal service for Henry's son Henry VIII, but as a standard courtier, an Esquire of the Body. The reference to a Grocer implies membership of the Guild of Grocers in the City of London. It is therefore conceivable he may have had a career in commerce. The three offices of Gauger, Ulnager and Gabeler are all concerned with excise and duty collection, protection or measurement. An Ulnager inspected woolen cloth for quality, and assessed subsidy on it. A Gabeler collected gabels, such as taxes, duty service charges or rent. A Gauger measured or gauged bulk goods subject to duty, including alcoholic drink. The connection to Bristol is possibly due to his roots at Olveston, Gloucestershire, only to the north. An Usher at the Receipt of the Exchequer was the official doorkeeper who allowed the Sheriffs from the various counties in, one by one, to the room in which was situated the chequered table around which sat the Lords of the Exchequer, to present their annual accounts for their county. In these offices held by Denys is evidence of the evolution of the role of the Groom of the Stool from an officer dealing with palace finance to one dealing with taxation matters and